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Reports: Second Ireland player tests positive for COVID-19


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It's believed a second member of the Republic of Ireland squad has tested positive for coronavirus. 

Both the Irish Independent and Irish Mirror claim the latest positive test result came from the round of testing that followed Sunday's 0-0 UEFA Nations League draw with Wales.

News of a second potential positive coronavirus case throws Stephen Kenny's preparations for Wednesday's game with Finland into disarray.

The manager was deprived of seven players for the scoreless draw with Ryan Giggs' side at the Aviva on Sunday, and he was only able to name seven substitutes.

An unnamed player had tested positive prior to the Wales game, while John Egan, Alan Browne, Callum Robinson and Callum O'Dowda were also ruled out as they were deemed 'close contacts'.

Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah have been able to rejoin the squad ahead of the trip to Helsinki. Both young forwards had returned to their clubs having been late withdrawals from the squad to face Slovakia.

Both were thought to have been close contacts of an FAI employee who had tested positive for COVID-19. That individual's test was later revealed to have been a 'false positive', allowing Connolly and Idah to return.

The Ireland squad were due to travel to Helsinki on Monday, but those plans have been put on hold as they await news of the latest positive test.

The asymptomatic player has been retested in the hopes he too will return a 'false positive'.

With numbers depleted, Kenny called up Dara O'Shea (West Brom), Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) and Jason Knight (Derby County) for the game with Finland.


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Aaron Connolly Adam Idah Coronavirus Covid-19 Finland Republic Of Ireland Stephen Kenny

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